WRIGHT CONTRACTING SVC INC

Contractor reviewed architect's specs, priced them out, advised us of other improvements we might want to do at this time. Contractor laid out "rules of engagement": a single contact person from the church, all changes to be costed, documented, and approved by both parties before being undertaken. Contractor assigned a project manager to lead the project. Contractor identified the subcontractors to do the actual work. We took out a loan to fund the work. Work was to begin August, 2008, but was delayed while contractor revised documentation, to get authorization from Hamilton County to begin the work. Work actually began in late-September or early October. Once begun, work progressed as anticipated by contractor. As work progressed, members of congregation asked for several additions, which had to be costed and approved. We wound up adding the following to our original request: New light fixtures in Sanctuary. Replacement of carpeting with flooring at front of Sanctuary, and between Sanctuary entrance and church entrance. Painting Sanctuary walls and ceiling. New kitchen windows. Improved kitchen countertops vs. those previously approved. Additional sink in kitchen for handwashing. All this was handled smoothly by Contractor's on-site manager. The delay of the start of demolition caused it to begin after the preschool in our church had begun classes. The noise was very frightening and disturbing to our youngest preschool children. On his own volition, Contractor's onsite manager agreed to advance the daily work schedule by 2 hours, so the noisiest work could be completed before the children arrived. Later in the work, one of the sub-contractors failed to take the obvious precautions when removing concrete block for a new A/C vent. A piece of falling block bounced through an existing art glass window in an entrance door. The contractor took care of the replacement bill for us. There were more delays in getting county approval for occupancy. We had hoped to be back in the Sanctuary by Thanksgiving. We actually made it by early December. The result was breath-takingly beautiful. To our surprise and delight, the acoustics were far better than we had anticipated. We were thoroughly delighted with the results. Seven months after completion, during our annual A/C maintenance, our A/C contractor found one of the new A/C units to be dry of refrigerant. He said the unit must still be under warranty, and advised us to go back to the installer. We notified Wirght Contracting immediately, and were told to go to the subcontractor who installed the unit. The subcontractor said it was impossible for that to happen unless someone had released the refrigerant. He replaced the refrigerant, charge us $800, and never looked for a cause. Two years later (summer 2011), the same unit was dry of refrigerant again. We asked our own contractor to find the cause. He found multiple leaks between the condenser and the coils, and recommended that the refrigerant line between the 2 be removed and replaced our contractor also told us that the connections had been soldered, when they should have been brazed. We shut down that unit and considered the magnitude of the problem. We decided we really had 3 bad installations, with only one showing symptoms. We left the unit shut down while I developed more information. I was able to download manufacturer's specs for 2008 from Carrier's website. They were quite clear in stating that brazed fittings were required at the time of installation. I also purchased a copy of the 2008 Ohio Mechanical Code from amazon.com. Our contractor had said that soldered connections were in violation of the Hamilton County code in 2008. I determinded from the Ohio Mechanical Code that the connections were not in violation for the specific refrigerant in our installation. I also determined that we cannot sue a Kentucky firm in an Ohio Small Claims Court. I have been unable to find if we can sue them in a Kentucky Small Claims Court. In 2012, we received an estimate of $2,850 to pull and replace the connecting lines for all 3 Sanctuary A/C units. I told our own contractor to go ahead. At the same time I sent Wright Contracting a 30 page document, including photos and invoice, and let them know we were about to total $4,000 in expenses to repair their work. I received no response. I was on site when the A/C connections were pulled and replaced. Apparently the installation was far worse than anyone had anticipated. For each unit, there were from 15 to 20 soldered connections between the condenser and the coils. When our contractor finished his work, the 15 to 20 soldered connections had been replaced by 2 or 3 brazed connections. With the work finally completed, I called Wright Contracting twice to arrange on conversation on what they planned to do for us. Each time they told me they would bring their subcontractor into the conversation and would arrange a meeting for within the week. Each time they never called back. I have a basement full of soldered fittings, and photos to share. To this day, Wright Contracting has not seen or acknowledged them, nor have they provided us a shred of advice or diagnosis beyond taking it up with the subcontractor -- with whom we have never had a contract.